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Chapter 13
Carbon:
A Gem, a Molecule, and a
Heart of Nanotechnology
ABSTRACT
“Carbon: A Gem, a Molecule, and a Heart of Nanotechnology” is about related habitats and technologies seen from the scientific, artistic, and educational points of view. It explores carbon as mineral:
coal, carbon as a molecule, carbon as soft matter, and biologically inspired models for computing.
Art inspired by carbon and enhanced by digital technologies are a means to understand and interpret
nature- and science-related concepts.
INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND
DATA
Themes discussed in this chapter comprise: Carbon
as mineral, meaning coal: in fossil fuels, as a source
of energy, in surface mining with its environmental
cost. Next, carbon as a molecule is examined: in
the carbon cycle, carbon monoxide CO, carbon
allotropes and isotopes. Finally, carbon as soft
matter: present in computers, nanocomputers,
quantum computing, and biologically inspired
models for computing.
Organic chemistry is about carbon compounds
and thus it is also about us. Carbon was known in
ancient civilizations, e.g., Egyptian and Roman,
in the forms of soot and charcoal. Diamonds
were known in China about 2500 BC. Scientists
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4627-8.ch013
described almost ten million organic compounds
formed by carbon. Carbon is the fourth most
abundant element in the universe after hydrogen,
helium, and oxygen. There is a lot of carbon in
the Sun, stars, and comets. On the Earth it is the
main constituent of many minerals and biological
molecules. Inorganic carbon is contained in carbonate rocks: limestones, dolomites, marbles, and
in carbon dioxide (CO2); it occurs in organic deposits such as coal, peat, oil, and methane hydrate.
Carbon is present in all life forms and is crucial for
life on Earth because it forms many bonds to form
complex organic molecules (carbon makes up to
four bonds per atom). Strong Carbon-carbon bonds
to other carbon atoms combine into long, strong,
stable, rich in energy chains and rings, such as in
a DNA that is made of two intertwined molecules
built around a carbon chain. The carbon exchange
results from the chemical, physical, geological,
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Carbon
and biological processes. Carbon exists in the
atmosphere as carbon dioxide (810 gigatonnes
of carbon: one gigatonne = 109 metric tons), in
water bodies (36,000 gigatonnes of carbon), and
in the biosphere (1,900 gigatonnes of carbon). The
amount of carbon in simple organic compounds
(carbon plus hydrogen) of hydrocarbons, such as
coal, petroleum, and natural gas, is around 900
gigatonnes. Carbon combines with hydrogen and
oxygen into sugars, lignans, chitins, alcohols, fats,
aromatic esters, carotenoids, and terpens. Carbon
dioxide is the most important human-contributed
greenhouse gas (which absorbs and emits infrared
radiation) resulting in the greenhouse effect. A
chemical element carbon C has atomic number 6.
Carbon nucleus contains 6 protons and 8 neutrons
(carbon isotopes have 2–16 neutrons). As a nonmetallic element, carbon in its solid form is dull and
brittle, forms acidic molecules with oxygen, and
has a tendency to attract electrons, making four
electrons available to form very strong covalent
chemical bonds (with pairs of electrons shared
between atoms). It does not react with oxidizers
at room temperature; when heated, it forms carbon oxides, which are used in the iron and steel
industry. Carbon atoms can form covalent bonds
to many other types of atoms and form many
materials such as wood or body cells.
Organic carbon is a crucial component and a
source of energy stored in carbon bonds and used
by all living beings. Organisms (called autotrophs)
extract carbon from the air in the form of CO2
converting it into organic carbon and building
nutrients. Using the sunlight’s energy plants and
plankton absorb and combine CO2 and water to
form sugar (CH2O) and oxygen: CO2 + H2O +
energy = CH2O + O2. Glucose, fructose, and
other sugars, through processes such as respiration, create fuel for further metabolic processes.
Plants can break down the sugar to get the energy.
Other organisms (called heterotrophs) must obtain
organic carbon by consuming other organisms.
Animals (including people) can get energy from
breaking down the plant or plankton sugar; they
have to eat it first. Oxygen combines with sugar to
release water, carbon dioxide, and energy: CH2O
Figure 1. Jennifer Funnell, Carbon. (© 2011, J. Funnell. Used with permission)
258
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